According to a news report from Punch, Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has urged the state's intending Hajj pilgrims to act as exemplary ambassadors. He also announced a gift of $100 each to the pilgrims.

The governor made this announcement on Thursday while bidding farewell to the fifth batch of the 2024 intending pilgrims at the Babatunde Idi-Agbon International Airport in Ilorin.

This year, approximately 3,102 pilgrims from Kwara State are undertaking the holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. During his visit, Governor AbdulRazaq recalled some challenges encountered during last year’s Hajj operations and commended President Bola Tinubu for implementing necessary improvements for this year's pilgrimage.

“You can see that the pilgrims are happy. There is a huge improvement. I would like to thank the Federal Government for the improvement of the airport.

“The airfield lightning is back and better. Last year, our pilgrims had to fly through Lagos because facilities were not in place. This flight is going directly to Saudi Arabia,” he said.

AbdulRazaq, after announcing the gift of $100 each to the intending pilgrims, promised that the state government would continue to support the board for a smooth hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Chairman, Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Prof Mashood Mahmud-Jimba, said AbdulRazaq had been supportive towards the success of all the programmes and activities of the board.

The Executive Secretary, Alhaji AbdulSalam Abdulkadir, advised the intending pilgrims from the state to abide by the rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia and that of the hajj activities.

Speaking after the departure, the Public Relations Officer, Jumoke Jimoh, said the fifth batch of 350 intending pilgrims from the state boarded Air-Peace Airline and departed to Saudi Arabia at 11.18 am on Thursday.